Hosta plant named &#39; fireworks&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Hosta  plant named ‘Fireworks’, characterized by narrow pointed leaves having deep green margins, and a creamy yellow to creamy white center, that displays a unique upright habit and light lavender flowers held above the foliage on thick cream-colored scapes.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Hosta hybrid (Tratt.)

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Fireworks’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the new and distinct cultivar of Hosta,botanically known as Hosta hybrid (Tratt.), and hereinafter referred toas the cultivar ‘Fireworks’.

The new plant was discovered by the inventor, Mary Zwagerman as anon-induced, naturally occurring whole plant mutation of Hosta‘Loyalist’ (not patented) in a greenhouse at a nursery in Zeeland,Mich., USA. Asexual propagation of the plant at the same nursery bytissue culture and division has shown that the unique and distinctcharacteristics of this new plant are stable and reproduce true to typein successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hosta ‘Fireworks’ is unique from its parent sport, Hosta ‘Loyalist’ (notpatented) and all other hosta cultivars known to the inventor, inseveral traits. Hosta ‘Loyalist’ is a tissue culture derived sport ofHosta ‘Patriot’ (not patented) which is a sport of Hosta ‘Francee’ (notpatented). Hosta ‘Francee’ and ‘Patriot’ both have creamy white marginswith the former having a thinner margin, and the latter, wider margins.Hosta ‘Loyalist’ (a reverse type variegation pattern) has a broader andflatter leave blade. Hosta ‘Fireworks’ has a narrower leaf, with afolded blade. ‘Fireworks’ is a more rapid grower than ‘Loyalist’, andreaches saleable size in a 3 inch×4½ inch deep pot in about 5½ monthsfrom a rooted cutting. Hosta ‘Fireworks’ has very thick, rigid leavesgiving the whole plant an upright form and habit. The leaf blades andpetioles have a wide dark green margin and yellowish cream to whitecenters. ‘Fireworks’ flowers in mid summer with light lavender flowers,on scapes above the foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs of the new plant demonstrate the overall appearance ofthe plant including the unique traits. The colors are as accurate asreasonably possible with color reproductions. Some slight variation ofcolor may occur as a result of lighting quality, intensity, wavelength,direction or reflection.

FIG. 1 shows the plant with scapes, flowers and buds.

FIG. 2 shows a leaf with the intricate leaf colors.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions and color references are based on The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (2001 edition) except where commondictionary terms are used. The new plant, Hosta ‘Fireworks’, has notbeen observed under all possible environments. The phenotype may varyslightly with different environmental conditions, such as temperature,light, fertility and moisture, but without any change in the genotype.The following observations and size descriptions are of a three-year oldplant in a one gallon container grown in Zeeland, Mich., USA under 50%shade on cloudless days, day temperatures of 18 to 28 degrees C., andnight temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees C.

-   Botanical classification: Hosta hybrid cultivar ‘Fireworks’.-   Parentage: naturally occurring whole plant mutation of Hosta    ‘Loyalist’ (not patented).-   Propagation: Method by tissue culture and division. Time to initiate    roots from both division and tissue culture about four weeks from    cutting.-   Rooting habit: Normal, fleshy, to 3 mm thick, branching.-   Plant habit: Herbaceous, densely rhizomatous perennial, symmetrical    with radical glabrous above and glaucous underneath leaves upright    and erect through flowering period, more horizontal late in the    season and in maturity.    -   -   Crop time.—Under normal summer greenhouse growing conditions            about 22 weeks to finish in a one-liter container. Plant            vigor is good.        -   Plant size.—foliage at flowering is 18 to 24 cm tall and 25            to 30 cm wide.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Shape and size.—Ovate to broadly ovate leaf blades have an            acute apex and cordate base. The leaf blades are 13 to 16 cm            long and 8 to 10 cm wide. The leaf blade margin is entire            and the green variegation pattern on the edge varies in            different regions of the leaf from 10 to 25 mm wide.        -   Venation.—parallel, same color as surrounding leaf surface,            either adaxial or abaxial.        -   Color.—Adaxial surface is a deep green closest to RHS 141A            on the margin of young emerging leaves. Later in the growing            season, the margin is between RHS 139A and RHS 136A. As            leaves are first emerging, the inside, or center portion of            the leaf is yellow-green, more green than RHS 151C. The            center of the leaves then lightens to between yellow RHS 11D            to RHS 13D later in the growing season. Abaxial margin            surface is RHS 137B on early young leaves, and RHS 137A on            leaves later in the season. The abaxial center color starts            RHS 154D and lightens to RHS 4D with light and heat as the            season progresses. There are also three or more intermediate            color patterns between the center and the margin. The main            intermediate color band on the adaxial surface is            yellow-green RHS 144B on newly emerged leaves, and between            RHS 143B and RHS 143C on older leaves. Other more yellow,            lighter, or more grayed bands including: RHS 138B, RHS 138D,            RHS N144D and RHS 143A are also sometimes present in thinner            and shorter stripes. The main intermediate band visible on            the abaxial side is RHS 144C on young leaves and about RHS            145C on leaves later in the season. The thinner and shorter            bands on the abaxial side sometimes include RHS 144D, RHS            145C, RHS 145D and 141D. Petioles are 18 to 22 cm long and 6            to 9 mm wide. The center color starts the same as the leaf            center and lightens to RHS 11D, but varies like the leaves            depending on how much light the petiole receives. The edge            of the petiole is green RHS 136A on both surfaces.-   Flower description:    -   -   Buds.—torpedo-shaped, flared at apex; two days prior to            opening the buds are violet RHS 85D and RHS 85A, 6 to 7 cm            long, up to 1.5 cm wide, and when opened the flowers have            tepals of Red purple RHS 69D and violet stripes of RHS 84B.        -   Flowers.—15 to 21 per scape, 4 to 6 scapes per plant;            funnelform, 4 to 6 cm wide and 6 to 8 cm long, (distal            flowers being smaller) subtended by a bract, simple, entire,            narrowly-acute, sessile, with base wrapped around scape, up            to 2 cm long and 5 to 7 mm wide with the same colors and            pattern as the leaves; flowers persist for a normal period,            up to two days on or off the plant, and the scapes remain            effective from mid July to late August. No fragrance has            been detected.        -   Peduncle.—erect to 48 cm tall and 0.8 cm in diameter, cream            color RHS 11D with tints of green lighter than RHS 139D            closer to the base, and a reddish purple stippling RHS 60B            becoming much heavier at the apical one fifth.        -   Pedicel.—approximately 1 cm long, 3 mm wide, between RHS 76C            and RHS 76D.        -   Tepal.—six, simple, entire, fused at the base, oblong to            elliptic, with slightly-recurved acute apex, approximately 7            cm long and 1.2 cm wide, arranged in two layers of three,            the inner three with clear 1 to 2 mm margin, main adaxial            color in center of tepals is Red purple RHS 69D and violet            stripes of RHS 84B. The back of the tepals is between RHS            75B and 76B without obvious stripes except for the clear            margin.        -   Gynoecium.—single, style — 5 to 6 cm long, 1 mm diameter,            near white, curled upward at distal end; Stigma — entire,            white, up to 3 mm diameter.        -   Androecium.—Filaments — six, white, approximately 1 mm in            diameter and up to 5 cm long.        -   Anthers.—5 to 6 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, about RHS 83A around            margin of abaxial side, white in center, pollen is            yellow-orange RHS 17B.-   Seeds have not been observed.-   Disease resistance: The plant is more resistant to melting-out than    most other light-centered varieties, a condition where the light    colored leaf center becomes necrotic. It grows best with plenty of    moisture but is able to tolerate some drought. Hardiness to at least    USDA zone 3, and other disease resistance is typical of other    hostas. ‘Fireworks’ is more resistant to slugs and other pests than    hostas with Hosta plantaginea lineage.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of ornamental Hosta plant named‘Fireworks’ as herein described and illustrated, suitable as a pottedplant, for landscaping specimen or in mass, and for fresh-cutarrangements.